1 1 Aug., 1919.] Settlement in Disiricts of Heavy Rainfall. 



47!) 



Mr. Stewart does not keep sheep, because the " dogs " are too trouble- 

 some, and the ravages of rabbits were very severe until the blcck was 

 securely netted. He admits making the mistake years ago of ringing 

 more of the original timber than ht- could keep clear. This area rapidly 

 became overrun with sapling"^, with the resuH that it furnished consider- 

 ably less feed than there was between the trees of the virgin forest. 



Mr. Stewart states that flax has been grown in the district, and has 

 done well. On his block the hoinestead, stable and cow-shed, of split 

 timber, roofed with shingles, and other improvements, show splendid 

 workmanship. 



Mr. Pollard is one of the settlers who runs sheep. lie yards them care- 

 fully at night. His block consists of a selection of 320 acres of second- 

 class land, of sandy chocolate loam. In addition he has 209 acres of 

 partly cleared country. Twenty acres of potatoes are usually cultva'ed. 

 The varieties preferred are Coronation, Beauty of Hebrcn, and Ver- 

 mont. The yields average 3 tens to the acre. Beyond the first 



Mr. Stewart's homestead. 



ploughing little other work is given, so that first-class results are not 

 to be expected. The stock comprise 15 dairy cows and 16 head of store 

 cattle, 5 working horses, and about a dozen others, including light 

 horses and youngsters; 150 head of crossbred sheep and 80 lambs are 

 carried. Mr. Pollard finds that sheep brought in from the drier areas 

 do not thrive ihere. The wool is liable to be wet for weeks at a time in 

 the winter, and this adversely affects the constitution of any but local 

 sheep. He has bred his flock up from local sheep, and they do fairly 

 well. The average of wool last year was between seven and eight 

 {MDunds, which brought 15d. per lb. It is on the ccaise side. Lambing 

 is late. The remaining stock comprise a cou}>le of sows and a boar. 

 These are fed on the small potatoes and sometimes on boi'ed rye, which 

 does well in the district, being liardier than oats, Avhicli suffers in some 

 years from the excessive wet. 



The cows are mated to calve in July and August. They are then 

 hand-fed till September, and then depend on the natural grass. They 

 milk well right through the summer. 



